Army Wears Down Mounties

WEST POINT, NY – Mansfield turned the ball of five times and Army recorded seven sacks in downing a depleted Mansfield 58-0 in a CSFL contest at West Point Saturday afternoon.

The Mountaineers ended the game on the Army three-yard line as time expired and twice drove deep into Army territory in the first quarter.

Mansfield received the opening kickoff and picked up a first down of the first play of the game when sophomore quarterback Adam Hutchison hit senior wide out Kurt Logan for 15-yards to the Mansfield 41, but things turned south shortly after for the Mountaineers.

Two incompletions and a 1-yard run by Keith Brown forced a Mansfield punt that was partially blocked and was returned 63 yards by Seth Wills for a touchdown and 7-0 Army lead.

The Mountaineers came right back on their next drive, moving the ball down to the Army 29-yard line after a 16-yard completion from Hutchison to Logan. Mansfield move into the red-zone on the next play when freshman Devyn Nelson ran for five yards to the Black Knight 24.

But two straight penalties against Mansfield followed by a 14-yard sack and intentional grounding penalty moved the ball back to the Army 48-yard line ending the drive.

A banged-up Mountaineer defense played exceptionally well, holding Army to a three-and-out on its next drive. Army downed the punt at the Mansfield 2-yard line and the Mountaineers faced a 3rd-and-11 from their own one-yard line. Hutchison then found freshman D.J. McLean Jr. with a 33-yard pass, followed by a 12-yard strike to Logan to put Mansfield on its own 46. One play later Hutchison hooked up with Logan again, this time for 16-yards to put the Mountaineers on the Black Knight's 38-yard line.

Mansfield's drive ended there but the defense again held Army to a three-and-out and held the Black Knights on yet another three-and-out as the first quarter ended with Army leading 7-0.

Army mounded a 11-play 43-yard scoring drive when running back Marqus Burrell ran it in from 2-yards out on a third-and-goal with 10 minutes left in the first half.

Army turned up its defensive effort, pressuring the quarterback the rest of the afternoon recording seven times and forcing four interceptions one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Mansfield, which was without the services of a number of key defensive starters, wore down midway through the third quarter.

The Mountaineers actually held a halftime advantage in total offense but Army racked up 300 yards of total offense in the second half.

Hutchison completed 13 of 34 passes for 144 yards while freshman Drew Spurback came in relief in the fourth quarter completing 7-of-10 passes for 57 yards. Logan had five catches for 76 yards while McLean Jr., caught five passes for 61 yards.

Devyn Nelsen topped the running game picking up 44 yards on 11 carries.

Sophomore Isaac Havens led an inspirational defensive effort with a game-high 12 tackles while freshman Michael Johnson had seven tackles. Freshman Nic Anastasi was credited with six tackles while seniors Doug Bird and Mike Bucek each had five stops apiece along with sophomore Trey Gibson and freshman Ja'shaun Smith. Senior Kyle Post had four solo tackles and block a field goal attempt.

Army quarterback Keegan West rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns while completing 6-of-10 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown all in the second half.

Mansfield has a bye next weekend before hosting Franklin Pierce on Oct. 15 for Homecoming.